AP Psych - Unit 1

Pschology

The science of behavioral and mental processes

Nature-nurture issue

The longstanding questioning of how we become who we are. Genes or environment?

Natural Selection

The idea that organisms inherited traits used for survival will be passed down from generation to generation

Eugenics

The practice of selectively breeding to promote certain genes

Evolutionary Psychology

How humans are alike due to shared biology, and evolutionary history

Behavioral genetics

Focuses on studying individuals biological differences

Mutation

A random error in gene replication that causes change

Environment

Every non-genetic influence from birth until now

Heredity

The genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

Genes

the biochemical units of heredity

Genome

The complete instructions for creating an organism

Monozygotic twins

Identical, one egg splits into two, one sperm

Dizygotic twins

Fraternal, two eggs, two sperm

Epigenetics

The study of molecular mechanisms by which environments can influence genetic expression

Nervous system

The body’s speedy electrochemical communication network, it has nerve cells for the peripheral and central nervous systems

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

The sensory nervous system that connects the CNS to the rest of the body

Nerves

Electrical cables formed from axons (Gateways)

Sensory Neurons (Afferent)

Carries messages from tissues and sensory receptors sent to CNS (Touch, psychical feelings)

Motor neurons (efferent)

carries instructions from CNS away to muscles and glands

Interneurons

Neurons in the brain and spinal cord that process sensory input and motor output

Somatic nervous system

It enables voluntary control of skeletal muscles (skeletal nervous system)

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Controls glands and internal organ muscles (Involuntary)

Sympathetic Nervous system

It arouses and expends energy (Fight or flight, stress)

Parasympathetic Nervous system

Opposite of sympathetic, calms after being stressed

Reflex

An automatic response to a sensory stimulus a result of the endocrine system.

Reflex arc

A single sensory neuron and a single motor neuron that produce an immediate reaction

Myelin sheath

Covers the axon to help transmit neurons

Glial cells

Cells that support and nourish neurons

Action potential

An electrical charge that travels down the axon

Resting potential

The positive outside, negative inside of state of an axon

Refractory period

A brief resting pause after a neuron has fired subsequent action can’t continue until the axon has rested

Threshold

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

All or none response

A neuron firing or not

Synapse

The meeting point between two neurons discovered by Sherrington

Neurotransmitter

A chemical messenger going from neuron to neuron

Reuptake

Neurotransmitters being reabsorbed by the sending neuron

Acetylcholine ACH

Neurotransmitter that Enables muscle action learning and memory, Alzheimer’s ach neurons deteriorate

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter that Influences movement,learning,attention and emotion. Linked to schizophrenia, tremors, and Parkinson’s

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter that Affects mood, hunger, sleep, arousal. Depression

Norepinephrine

Neurotransmitter that Controls alertness and arousal. Depresses mood same as what is in an epi pen

GABA

Neurotransmitter that Major inhibitory neurotransmitter. Linked to seizures, tremors, insomnia

Glutamate

Neurotransmitter that excitatory neurotransmitter, involved in memory. Oversupply can stimulate the brain, migraines, seizures

Endorphins

Neurotransmitter that Influences perception of pain or pleasure. Opioids cause less endorphins

Substance P

Neurotransmitter that processes pain perception and immune response. Chronic pain

Agonist

A molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s actions and a psychoactive drug can mimic a neurotransmitter acting as an…

Antagonist

A molecule inhibits a neurotransmitter

Endocrine system

Slow chemical communication system

Hormones

Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands and travel through the blood stream

Adrenaline

Epinephrine, releases in times of stress or danger

Pituitary gland

A pea sized structure controlled by the hypothalamus and secretes growth hormones

Oxytocin

Enables orgasm, labor contractions, breast milk productions

Cortisol

A stress hormone that increases blood sugar

Psychoactive Drug

Chemicals that alter the brain, producing changes in perceptions and mood

Substance use disorder

Continuous substance is despite resulting life disruption

Tolerance

Brain chemistry adapts to the offset drug effect

Addiction

Continuous use resulting in craving the drug

Withdrawal

Adverse consequences when coming off the drug

Depressant

Drugs that result in reduced neural activity and slow body functions

Expectancy effects

Expectations influencing behavior (solitary drinking, placebo effect)

Barbiturates

Tranquilizer drugs

Opioids

Opium and it’s derivatives, depressants, lessens pain and anxiety

Stimulants

Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up bodily functions

Amphetamines

They stimulate neural activity

Methamphetamines

Chemically similar to amphetamines but more effective

MDMA

Stimulant and mild hallucinogen

Hallucinogens

Psychedelic drugs that distort perception and evoke sensory images